New look board for disability agency

A prominent businesswoman will lead the revamped agency overseeing the national disability insurance scheme.

The federal government has announced company director Helen Nugent will chair the new-look, expanded National Disability Insurance Agency Board.

She is one of eight new members joining the board from January 1.

Four incumbent members will stay on for at least six months while another four end their terms on Saturday.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter says the shake-up gives the board the right mix of skills to oversee the transition from the trial insurance scheme with 30,000 participants to the full scheme, expected to have 460,000 participants by 2020.

"The fact that the new board provides the right blend of skills and experience is evidenced by the fact that four of the board members have lived experience of disability whilst other members have long involvement in the disability sector," he said.

He was confident the new board would oversee the $22 billion scheme with rigour, vision and care.

The changes to the board come with some baggage, with original members only finding out in September 2015 they were being replaced when the government advertised their jobs in newspapers.

NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE AGENCY'S NEW BOARD

Chair:

* Helen Nugent

New members:

* Sandra Birkensleigh

* Robyn Kruk

* John Langoulant

* Jim Minto

* Paul O'Sullivan

* Estelle Pearson

* Andrea Staines

Continuing members:

* Rhonda Galbally

* Glenn Keys

* Martin Laverty

* John Walsh